ORLANDO, FL - August 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Realtors® applaud Gov. Charlie Crist’s decision to appoint George LeMieux to serve out the remainder of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez’s term

Monroe County, FL - August 27, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a senior member of the Florida Congressional Delegation, and Peter J. Horton, Director of Airports at Key West International Airport, were both very pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration has authorized a $2.5 million grant to sound proof homes in Key West, Florida.

Congressman Grayson wants to do all he can to boost the housing market in Central Florida.

ORLANDO, FL - August 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home sales rose in July – the 11th month in a row that sales activity increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). Statewide existing home sales in July also rose over the previous month’s sales level.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - August 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum sued a Kissimmee-based company over allegations it targeted Hispanics in a foreclosure rescue fraud scheme. JPB Consulting Inc. and its president, Juan P. Bordali, allegedly charged up front fees of more than $1,000 per customer to homeowners about to lose their homes, but never performed any services. Charging fees up front before completing foreclosure rescue services is a direct violation of Florida’s Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act.

New York, N.Y. - August 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Turner Construction Company, the nation’s leading general builder, has been selected by the City of Jacksonville to serve as the design/builder of the $224 million Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, FL. Construction is currently underway and the project is scheduled for completion in May of 2012.

TAMPA, FL - August 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today hosted a Tampa town hall meeting with Florida’s Interagency Mortgage Fraud Task Force to discuss the housing crisis. The event, designed to present a comprehensive approach for dealing with housing-related issues, provided community education and assistance to over 150 attendees. Participating agencies included state agencies, law enforcement, regulatory authorities, housing counselors and volunteer lawyers.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - August 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today launched a Spanish language version of her ‘Florida Housing Help’ web site, which offers extensive resources for Florida homeowners, including help to prevent foreclosure and mortgage fraud and details about Housing Help workshops across Florida. The site also offers Floridians information on how to access CFO Sink’s volunteer lawyer program, Florida Attorneys Saving Homes.

TAVARES, FL - August 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lake County and its partners in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) are meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lake County Agricultural Center, located at 1951 Woodlea Road in Tavares, with realtors and lending institutions in Lake County to discuss up-to-date information on NSP and how Lake County is using its funding.

ORLANDO, FL - August 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida rose 23 percent in second quarter 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). A total of 43,125 existing homes sold statewide in 2Q 2009; during the same period the year before, a total of 35,008 existing homes sold. It marks the fourth consecutive quarter that Florida has seen higher existing year-to-year home sales, according to FAR

TAMPA, FL - August 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that Thomas E. Stringer (Tampa, Florida) today pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud fore Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo. Stringer faces a maximum penalty of thirty years in federal prison. However, because it appears that no one sustained a loss from the commission of the crime, the relevant sentencing guidelines contemplate the imposition of a non-custodial sentence. United States intends to seek forfeiture of $222,362.00, the amount of the proceeds from the fraud. A sentencing date has not been set

WASHINGTON, DC - August 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On July 15, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the award of the HUD - VASH housing voucher allocations nationwide.

Initial Sustainability Goals Exceeded on Turner Projects. Miami, FL - August 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Turner Construction Company, the nation’s largest builder of Green buildings, is leading the Green building effort in the South Florida market through the company’s commitment to sustainable building practices.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - August 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced plans for her Bureau of Unclaimed Property’s Statewide Auction, an annual sell-off of unclaimed safe deposit box contents turned over to the state. The auction, which is open to the public, will be held October 24, 2009, in Ft. Lauderdale at the Embassy Suites Hotel. A public preview of the items up for bid will be held Friday, October 23.

ORLANDO, FL - August 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest gadgets and gizmos, motivating advice from leading real estate trainers and a chance to network with other real estate professionals: That’s what the Florida Association of Realtors’® (FAR) 2009 Convention & Trade Expo has to offer – opportunities to learn new practices, gain fresh approaches and boost business.

Tallahassee, FL - July 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Housing will hold a Universal Cycle Application Workshop on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 in Tallahassee. The purpose of the workshop is to present basic information about using the 2009 Universal Application and discuss the changes between the 2008 and 2009 Universal Applications. The workshop is open to the public.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum and The Florida Bar Foundation today announced a new foreclosure defense assistance program, funded by money obtained by the Attorney General through a settlement with Countrywide Financial. A total of $4 million will be available over two years to fund additional lawyer and paralegal positions devoted to providing free assistance to homeowners facing foreclosures who cannot afford legal defense. Florida currently has the fourth highest rate of foreclosures in the nation

EUSTIS - July 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lake And Sumter Emergency Recovery (LASER) will be welcoming next week 23 groups of volunteers from as far away as Michigan to help repair homes damaged by Tropical Storm Fay

July 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- ORLANDO, FL – Florida’s existing home sales rose in June – the 10th consecutive month that sales activity showed gains in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). Statewide sales in June also increased over the previous month’s sales level in both the existing home and existing condominium markets. And, for the second month in a row, the statewide median sales price for existing homes was higher than the previous month’s statewide median.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Jensen Beach Pastor and his wife have been convicted of mortgage fraud by a Martin County Jury. Rodney McGill and his mortgage broker wife Shalonda face up to 170 years in prison after running a mortgage fraud scheme that enticed victims to participate in a real estate investment “opportunity” but instead was an effort to rid the McGills of their mortgages. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution in partnership with the State Attorney Bruce Colton of the 19th Judicial Circuit.